Little black book: the tech scene - Events

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OpenSoho (£5)

Having launched last November in a dingy student bar about 20 minutes' walk out of Soho, Paul Walsh and Alex Tew's networking event quickly clawed its way up the ranks to become one of the most oversubscribed tech networking events in the UK. Those who attend always leave with a story to tell: the event is generally dominated by a core group of London's finest tech entrepreneurs, with an overtone of drunken mischief. Still, there are plenty of great networking opportunities - even if you do have to prise the free booze out of people's hands to make your pitch.
Find it: On Facebook; @opensoho

DrinkTank (free)

Started by Huddle founders Alistair Mitchell and Andy McLoughlin, DrinkTank is a free monthly networking event which gives tech entrepreneurs, investors and others who work in the industry the chance to socialise outside the constraints of the office environment. McLoughlin and Mitchell say they were tired of the formality of London's tech events - 'they were not neutral enough and were generally attended by consultants trying to sell stuff, dreamers or people who weren't in a position to do deals'. As a result, DrinkTank's guestlist is subject to certain approval criteria - but if you're serious about your business or work in the industry, there's no reason you shouldn't make it past the velvet rope.
Find it: On Meetup

OpenCoffee (free)

Another Saul Klein venture, OpenCoffee is an entrepreneurs' meetup network with branches in cities across the world, not only does OpenCoffee incorporate weekly meetings, but it also features a very active mailing list which allows entrepreneurs to ask questions of the entire group and give each other advice. Because it's so frequent, the philosophy behind the OpenCoffee group is less about the pressure to network and more about an acting as an informal environment where people in the industry can go for a 'coffee, a chat, and a cake'.
Find it: At opencoffeeclub.org - subscribe to your local mailing list by going to your nearest meetup's page on the list down the left-hand side; @opencoffee.

Silicon Stilettos (free)

An occasional meetup for UK tech ladies, Silicon Stilettos was conceived by Huddle's PR manager Zuzanna Pasierbinska after she decided something had to be done about the 80/20 ratio of men to women at most tech meetups. This being a free country, though, men are allowed to come to the events - as long as they're accompanied by a woman.
Find it: On Meetup or Ning.

Bootlaw (free)

Run by solicitors Barry Vitou and Danvers Bailleu at the offices of their firm, Winston & Strawn, Bootlaw is a regular meetup which provides free business legal advice to tech entrepreneurs. Baz'n'Danvers, as they are universally known among the tech scene, aim to demystify law for tech businesses by answering their questions from a pragmatic and practical standpoint, as well as supplying beer and pizza. If you want to go, though, move quickly - places are limited and tend to fill up fast.
Find it: On Meetup; @bootlaw; @danversbaillieu; @bazv

The British Library Business & IP Centre events (price varies)

Less an event and more a series of events - as well as a great resource - the centre is designed to support entrepreneurs and inventors 'from that first spark of inspiration' through advice sessions, workshops and other events. The centre also gives you free access to business and IP publications, databases market research, company data, and news as well as all-important information on sources of funding.
Find it: at bl.uk/bipc; @BIPC

TEDGlobal (From £2,700)

The European sister conference of the US' celebrated TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) events, TEDGlobal brings some of the most exciting entrepreneurs, thinkers, politicians and artists together to discuss some of the greatest questions facing the tech and media industries today - the likes of Gordon Brown, Michelle Obama and Tim Berners-Lee have all put in appearances. The next conference takes place in Oxford in mid-July - but sign up now: this year's application for a $4500 (£2,700) pass includes essay questions on 'your goals, accomplishments and connection to your community'.   
Find it: at the TEDGlobal website

MiniBar (free)

While OpenSoho and DrinkTank rely on sticking a group of entrepreneurs in a room, giving them a lot of free booze and hoping they'll all get on, MiniBar has a bit more of a structure to it, giving slots to entrepreneurs, investors and other organisations who wish to make presentations. With almost 2,500 members, the group inevitably fills Shoreditch's Truman Brewery - and don't worry, there is still free booze.
Find it: At the Truman Brewery, on Meetup.

First Tuesday (price varies)

Founded by, among others, online Dragon Julie Meyer in 1998 to provide a forum for tech businesses seeking funding, First Tuesday was forced to scale down a bit following the dot com crash, when it had 500,000 members worldwide. These days, the group has been resurrected but is more London-centric, with events held bi-weekly across the capital.
Find it: At firsttuesday.co.uk

Best of the rest:

Mobile Monday London: Monthly events for London's mobile tech-heads Find it: momolo.org

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